I think that Austin might very well be comming back full time to the WWE with hopes of a last title run. I think he is physically able to do it and he has it in him. But I just can't see him or Hogan agreeing to lose clean at Mania... especially Hogan.

If they have started a Hogan/Austin promo that's leading to an eventual match, then they had better have decided the winner and laid out the program already to avoid anything in the interim (barring injury or "Act of God").

Hogan just got a big win over Shawn Michaels and Austin hasn't been an in-ring competitor since WrestleMania 19. I can't see Austin agreeing to do an angle to say, "Yeah, Hogan you are the man" after, essentially, building a career on throwing it all back in his face.

Hogan, on the other hand, after jobbing to Rock, Brock, McMahon and Angle like he did back in 2002, I can see putting Austin over since he got the big SummerSlam win over HBK.

When it comes down to respect between the two, I would at least hope that Hogan respects Austin as the man who beat him in the ratings during the Monday Night Wars enough to put him over in one last big match. No one thought Hogan's success could ever be matched, but Austin did it even if his injuries and politics prevented him from having Hogan's longevity.

I would at least hope that Hogan respects Austin as the man who beat him in the ratings during the Monday Night Wars enough to put him over in one last big match.

Hahaha. Oh, you're serious?

Hogan's ego knows no bounds. In his mind, Hogan is the biggest draw ever. In Austin's, Austin is the biggest draw. There's no way Hogan will agree to lay down for Austin, and there's no way Austin will agree to lay down for Hogan. I have no idea how they're going to be able to get around the egos of these 2 men to craft a finish to the match.

I think the key here is that Steve Austin really has no incentive to return whereas Hogan would probably be really into just having the ultimate big WrestleMania money match.

Austin losing to Rock was a perfectly acceptable last match. He has all the collateral to say, "I don't want to lose" because he can just walk away at any time. I think he'd only come back to wrestle if it was worth it, and it would only be worth it if he was beating Hogan in the WrestleMania main event.

So, Hogan is really in a position where, unless he's willing to "do business" with Austin, he really won't have much of a money match at WrestleMania. Unless Austin truly doesn't give a rat's ass anymore and is willing to whore himself out, but I've never known him to do that.

Nevermind what I said about wanting to do a long epic build. So Hogan (and presumably Vince) were just going into business for themselves to strongarm Austin into doing a match he's said he didn't have all that much interest in doing? Vince sure loves playing his stars off each other.

Well if I'm Steve, then I'd be all, "Alright (ya dumb son of a bitch), you already teased this to the fans on your own TV, so now you need me to agree to it. Okay, but I want to win."

Personally, since the match isn't going to be that great to begin with, I'd just pull each guy to the side & tell them each that they're going over, then sit back and watch the match slowly descend into chaos.

Originally posted by Spaceman SpiffPesonally, since the match isn't going to be that great to begin with, I'd just pull each guy to the side & tell them each that they're going over, then sit back and watch the match slowly descend into chaos.

Then after they walk out and badmouth Vince...

From WWE Home Video - "The Self Destruction of Hulk Hogan" and "The Self Destuction of Stone Cold Steve Austin" - only on DVD!

Originally posted by geemoneyJust to add a little more intrigue....Wade Keller said Austin had no idea that Hogan was going to practically challenge him to a match on RAW- Austin was not consulted or told about it before hand.

I'm gonna call Bullshit on that one. Hogan's been talking about an Austin Wrestlemania match during his press junkets for "Hogan Knows Best"... most recently on "the Big Idea w/ Donnie Deutsch" last week, the same show that Austin was a later guest on. He may not have literally known that it was happening last night, but c'mon, who else would Hogan wrestle?

And since I have'nt seen it in the thread yet, the Observer says Raw did a 4.4 and UFC 1.6. (I'd link the article, but that's pretty much it) So is a 4.4 a big improvement, considering the booking, advertising, etc.?

Hogan/Austin will happen and there will be some run in from some young upstarts who think time has passed both Hogan and Austin by. After ten minutes of "action" between Hogan and Austin, which will include both kicking out of the others finishing move, a bunch of B talent guys willl come out and start the beatdown. Hogan and Austin will power up and hit their finishers on all the guys, which will of course reder all of THEM incapacitated. Celebrations abound (which will last longer than the match) and the official ruling will be a draw. Beer guzzling and posing for the crowd will be the final image as they both walk off together.

Originally posted by Spaceman SpiffI'd say 4.4 is a disappoinment. With all the hype, print ads, big names, Angle/HBK and Edge/Hardy, it didn't even do 1 full point better than it's average rating?

I actually think it's a pretty good rating. Last week they did a 3.2 so they got a 1.2 point jump on their first week on USA. They haven't done higher than a 4.4 since 3/22/04. I would think this would have met their expectations unless they were looking for a 5.0 (which I think would have been a bit unrealistic).

Originally posted by Matt TrackerI can never remember. Is that marriage recognized in the stories?

The recognize the fake marriage which sadly ended in divorce. They don't mention the real marriage on the air. I guess Triple H doesn't want to "expose the business" to steal one of his own lines.

While it's obvious I don't, he wrote a very detailed write-up of why he left the WWE in RAW Magazine some time back, and when you're a public figure like that and you let people know what you think so publicly, you - the fan - do gain knowledge about what they are thinking (or what they want you to think). I don't know if that qualifies as "knowing" Steve Austin or not, but given the information he gave me in interviews/articles, that's what I know about the person.

And, admittedly, the RAW Magazine article could have been a work, but I don't think that's likely. I think Austin wanted to offset the WWE's "Get the F Out" campaign after he left and legitimately give his side of the story (filtered through WWE of course).

Steve Austin is, from all accounts, a big "love it or leave it" type who, when things aren't going his way, will take his ball and go home if he doesn't like what's going on. Hogan has done the same in the past when dealing with guys like Vince Russo.

However, it is obvious that it is Hogan who wants this match as he has dropped numerous hints on radio shows and other mediums while Austin has kept quiet about it. If Hogan wants it that bad, and Austin has nothing to lose, it's pretty obvious which direction this will go in.